Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1887-11-11

the Haymarket? and / say no, unless you
assert that every AbOlitjonist could have
been held responsible for the deeds Of John
Brown.
History repeats itself. As the powers
that be have at all times thought that
they could stem the progressive tide by
e~xterminating a few "kickers," so do the
ruling class of to-day imagine that they
can put a stop TO the move
ment of labor emancipation by
hanging a few OF its advo-
Gates. Progress in it's victorious march has
had to overcome many obstacles which
seemed invincible, and many Of lis apostles
have died the death of martyrs. The OBJ
stscles which bar the road of progress to-
day seem to be %invincible, too, but they
will be overcome nevertheless.
At all times when the condition OF socie-
ty has become such that a large portion OF
the people complained Of the existing in
Justice, the ruling classes have denied the
truth of these complaints, but have SAID
the discomfort of the portion of the people
i'm question was due only to the PERM
cious influence OF malicious agitAtOrs.'
To-day again, some people assert that the
id agitators" are the cause OF the i'm
mense dissatisfaction among the working
people.
Oh, you people who speak this, can you
or will you not read the signs OF the
times? DO you not see the clouds on the
social armament are tbiCkening? Are you
not, for instance, aware that the control oil
industry and of the NEAR of t~ransporta-
ton, etc, is constantly concentrating IN
fewer hands; that the mOnopOlists, /. e.,
the sharps among the capitalists, swallow
the little ones among them; that trusts, "
pools and other combinations are being
formed in order to more thoroughly and
Systematically fleece the people; that un-
der the present system the development al
technic and machinery is from year to year
throwing more workmen on the wayside
that in some parts of this great and
fertile land q majority Of the farmers
are obliged to mortgage their homes
in order to satisfy the greed OF mon
strOus corporations; that, in fact, the rlch
are constantly growing richer and the poor
poorer. Yes, aud do you not comprehend
that all these evils find their origin IN the
present institution OF society which allows
one portion of the human race to build for
times upon the misfortunes of others-to
enslave their fellow men?
Instead of trying to remedy these evils,
and instead of a~scertainipg Just what the
cause of the widening dissatisfaction is,the
ruling classes, through their mOuthpieces
press, pulpit, etc.-delame and misrep-
resent the character, teachings and motives
of the advocates Of social reconstruction,
and use the rifle and club On them, and, II
the opportunity is favorable, send them
to the gallOws and prisons. WI!
this do any good? As an answer l
may 30 we'll quote the following words
with which Benjamin Franklin closed his
satirical'' essay, RULES for Reducing q
Great Empire to q Small One" which be
dedicated to the English government IN
1776: Suppose all their (the kicker
complaints to be invented and promoted
by q few d~emsgogues, whom if you could
catch and hang oil would be quiet. Catch
and hang a few accordingly and the blood
of the martyrs shalt work miracles IN favor
ofyour purpose i. e. your " rnin)